Brain Jelly

BRAIN JELLY by Reagren Wright

The Brain Jelly is a strange creature to encounter. It looks like a large floating humanoid brain from which hundreds of tentacles dangled from beneath. This creature of magic is related to aquatic jellyfish only it lives entirely on land and actively hunts out prey. The creature lacks basic sensory organs, but it is an intelligent predator (I.Q.1D4+5), capable of making calculating decisions. It is known to position itself in an ideal location or settings then lie in wait for food. It preys upon birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals (weighing less then 20 lbs/9 kg). Yet it has been known to lead humanoids into traps where they are killed and fed upon over time (using primitive tools like a chimpanzee). One of its favorite ploys is to use its psychic powers (mental illusion) to appear as a lost child or an injured humanoid calling for help. It may use its invisible haze to remain hidden until the last moment then launch an all out attack. The creature has been known to appear in astral communicating with psychics or practitioners of magic claiming to be a benevolent creature with the power to heal the sick and injured (which it can). Anyone coming within range of the Brain Jelly’s highly venomous tentacles risks almost certain death. Each Brain Jelly has 30-50 tentacles which all have the ability to string opponents on multiple times within microseconds after initial contact. Because the Brain Jelly can launch up half a dozen tentacles against a single or multiple opponents, these creatures have been known to kill a Whooly Dragon or wipe out a patrol of giants from Mt. Nimro.
Brain Jelly’s body is made up of 92-96% water. It sense movement (vibrations) with special sensory cells located in its epidermis. It also has light-sensitive organs that do not form images but are used to determine up from down, responding to sunlight shining on its skin surface. It doesn’t have any internal organs or systems. It digest food using the gastrodermal lining of its huge gastrovascular cavity (big enough to hold up to 20 lbs (9 kg). It does not need a respiratory system since its skin is thin enough that its body is oxygenated by diffusion. It has limited control over movement and mostly free-floats in the air (perpetual psionic power), but it can use strong gust of wind or lasso-like tentacles to wrap around then pulls itself in that direction to accomplish vertical movement. The outer side of a Brain Jelly is lined with ectoplasm and contains other organic compounds. This of course means the creature is extremely sensitive to high and low temperatures. Its body must have plenty of moisture in order to survive.
Brain Jellies normally live alone well enough away from humanoid civilizations. Though they enjoy hunting humanoids, the Jellies are “smart” enough to know being close to humanoid villages, towns, and cities could be dangerous for them. However, in some cases where large battles have taken place, and there are hundreds of unburied corpses on the ground, Brain Jellies will congregating into large swarms or “blooms” numbering up to 6D6 individuals. This also might be the opportunity where these creature being to mate. Brain Jellies are valued for their poisonous tentacles, but only the desperate for gold seek them out, for even if one cuts of a tentacle, it can still envenom anything that touches it for the next hour after being separated from the body.

Alignment: Considered diabolic

Hit Points: 2D6+4

S.D.C.: 5D6 for body (bell), 1D6+4 per tentacle.

P.P.E.: 6D6

I.S.P.: 120 (is doubled to 240 on Rifts Earth).

Natural Abilities: Motion detection and track by motion detection 90%, can follow and locate prey by following the vibrations caused by movement (not sound per sec, but air movement)-Range: 100 feet (30.48 m), feel the vibrations caused by ground movement (running or walking) 300 feet (91.4 m) away (90%), feel the vibrations of an approaching ground vehicle, large humanoid taller then 9 feet (2.74 m), herd of mammals, giant animals, or an army on the march, up to 1 mile (1.6 km) away, identify temperature (within 1D6 degree) 75%, identify wind direction 65%, identify common, known objects/substances 50% (uncommon 25%), float in the air (same as psionic-cost no I.S.P.), sixth sense (same as psionics-cost no I.S.P.), and stinging tentacles (epidermic nematocysts). Note: Each tentacle has a P.S. of 4 however working together they can carry, drag and lift weights up to 400 lbs (180 kg). Any heavier and the Brain Jelly cannot float and will only draw itself toward the heavy object.

Speed: 3

Attacks Per Melee: Special. The Brain Jelly has two attacks per melee. Each attack consists of launching a volley of tentacles (1D6+1) per target of opportunity. This means multiple targets can be attacked at the same time with varying number of tentacles. The moment a tentacle successful strikes (touches) a target (causing 1 point of damage), a microsecond later, it discharges dozens of tiny barbed-shaped capsules containing a coiled hollow thread-like structures. These hollow threads must penetrate the skin of the victim in order for the venom to be injected. After a tentacle successful strikes (touches) a target, a twenty side dice is rolled and a +3 bonus is added. If the strike total is greater then the Armor Rating (A.R.), then the hollow threads have penetrated the victim’s skin and the victim will have to make a save vs. poison. If the capsules fail to penetrate on the first attack, additional ones from the attached tentacle will attempt to do so, but this does not count as a second attack (it’s a continuation of the first). Only if the Brain Jelly launches additional tentacles does it count as it second attack. Each tentacle can release capsules three times per successful attack (touch). Remember these capsules are fired in microseconds after each tentacle has successful attached to a target.

Damage: The poison injected must be saved against (14) each time or the victim will take 1D6 points of damage and suffers searing pain for 1D4 hours (Lose initiative, -2 to all combat bonuses, lose 1 attack per melee round, and Speed and skill performances are reduced by 15%). The penalties, duration, and damage are accumulative per each successful penetration of the barbs and failure of rolling a saving throw.

Note: Following a sting, vinegar should be applied to the wound for a minimum of 30 seconds.

Acetic acid, found in vinegar, disables the Brain Jelly’s nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain). Vinegar may also be applied to attached tentacles, which should be removed immediately; this should be done using a cloth or glove to avoid bringing the tentacles into further contact with the skin. The tentacles will still sting if separate from the body, or if the creature is dead for at least an hour. Removing the tentacles without first applying vinegar may cause unfired nematocysts to come into contact with the skin and fire, resulting in a greater degree of envenomation.

Bonuses: +3 to initiative, +5 to strike, +8 to automatic parry, +3 to save vs. psionics (needs a 10 or better to save), +2 to save vs. magic, +7 to save vs. any form mind control, +8 to save vs. Horror Factor, and impervious to possession, poison, toxins, and drugs. Vulnerability: Fire and cold attacks inflict double damage.

Magic: None

Psionics: All sensitive and healing psionics, plus alter aura, telekinesis, invisible haze, mental illusion, mind wipe, mind bolt, and P.P.E. Shield. All psionics are equal to a 4th level Mind Mage.

Value: Alchemists, herbalist/apothecary, and assassin guilds are interested in the tentacles of the beasts in order to collect samples of the poison; maximum of 400 gold per tentacle.

Average Life Span: 100 years

Habitat: Damp, warm humid places, often near swamps. However, they have been known to appear in warm underground dwellings as well.

Range: Land of the South Winds, Yin-Sloth Jungles, and Floenry Isles.

Language: None, although they seem to have some sort of telepathic transmission language they shared only with their own kind.

Enemies: Worms of Taut (especially the Serpent Beasts) enjoy feeding on them.

Allies: None, everything smaller then it is potentially food.

Size: Body (bell) is 5-7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m) in diameter with 8 clusters containing 30-50 tentacles each. The tentacles vary in size from 3 to 30 feet (.91 to 9.14 m) in length.

Weight: Up to 30 lbs (13.5 kg).

Note: It is not known how these creatures reproduce, but it is likely very similar to normal jellyfish.